jPS 1054 
|.fl72 W3 
1 1868 
Copy 1 



THE WARNING, 



OR, THE RIRTH, Y0UT;H, MANHOOD, AND 



DANGER OF THE NATION, 



A POEM, 



BY D. ^YRES. 



Annus mirabilis. 



I^irioo 



lO CJonts. 



Sample Copies sent on ^eceipl o/'^rlce. A. Hbei^al discount 
to Clubs or the Trade. 



ROCHESTER, N.Y.^.N 

DAILY DEMOCRAT STEAM PRINTING HOI H0U^2 BUFFALO ST. 

1868. 



\ 



V 



"-T 



/^i\ 



THE WARNING ; 



OR, THE BIRTH, YOUTH, MANHOOD, AND 



DANGER OF THE NATION, 



A POEM ; 



BY D. A-YRES. 






Annus mirahilis. 



r»27loo - - - ■ xo c::Jo3:xt^- 

Sampte Copies sent on 'Receipt of ^rice. ci liberal discount 
to Clubs or the Trade, 



/ 



O ROCHESTER, N. Y.: 

DAILY DEMOCRAT STEAM PRINTING HOUSE, 62 BUFFALO STi 

1868. 






Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 18G8, by 

D. AYRES, 

In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the Northern District of 
New York. • 



NTRODUCTION. 



Tt is not often that I feel 

Such feelings o'er my senses steal, 

I can't command, much less explain ; 

To drive them hence, I've tried in vain — 

I half suspect, it is because 

T disobey Great Nature's laws. 

My trouble is, how shall I make 

My bow, so that with all 'twill take — 

I've studied hard Lord Chesterfield, 

He doth no satisfaction yield. 

Before a mirror, then I tried ; 

But yet I was not satisfied — 

By some one / had understood, 

To make a bow, and make it good. 

That you must practice in the dark! 

(Let me digress, with this remark, 

It is not always the best way. 

To mind what other people say.) 

So, like a dunce, I at it went. 

And when my strength was nearly spent, 

I heard a laugh just at my door, 

Which nearly raised me from the floor ! 

Says /, " How you did frighten me," 

Says he, " What can the matter be." 

I told him all, — asked him to say, 

Which he believed was the best way. 

He said, that if I tried to please 

Miss Jennie Mudge and Julia Pease, 

That David Dodge and William Jay, 

Would not at all admire my way. 

And Mr. Gough, and Mrs. Hough, 

Of such loiv trash would have enough! 

To make a book that will be read; 

Is not so hard as some have said. 

Your aim should be yowrse^/" to please; 

And then you'll write with greater ease. 

For men of sense always admire 

An Author that builds his oivn fire. 

I acted on the hint. And now, my friend, 

Already xjou may comprehend, 

Why some vagaries are found 

Within this little volume bound. 

But, if with care, you'll read it through, 

I hope 'twill cause you to renew 

Yonr vows to Freedom, God, and Right—- 

So now my friends, good day, good night. 



p 



IRTH. 



Two Imndred two score years and 

Seven, have come and gone ; 

Since in old Plymoutla Bay, 

One cold December's day, 

A puny vessel lay. 

For three long months it struggled 

With the boisterous deep ; 

Oft times it seemed as though 

Old ocean's bed would be its grave ; 

For 'neath some giant wave, 

Long time it would be lost ! 

Once more, emerging, tossed 

On some fierce breaker wild. 

To human mind, it seemed 

As if its desthiy were sealed ! 

But He, who holds the world within I 

The hollow of His hand. 

And doth the storm control. 

More readily^ than doth the fierce 

Tornado, move the dowmy Thistle blow, j 

From out its fleecy bed : — . , 1 

Was watching with an interest, \ 

Deeper far, than mortal man 

Can feel, or comprehend. 

Those noble souls, within the Mayflower 

Gathered. Who left their native land, 

To seek, on Columbia's shore. 

Or in her native wilds, 

FKEEDOM. Freedom to thiiik^ 

To ad^ to worship God, 

As best their judgment should approve. 

Or conscience dictate. 

And from this band of Pilgrims lorn 

Who, when all told, did scarce exceed 

One hundred souls, there should 

Arise a Nation mightier far 

Than European lands can boast, 

Or Asia's sun e'er shone upon. 



Their Iiardsliips, toils, their 

Sufferings, privations, prosperity 

And growth, 'tis needless to relate. 

They form ^apart, and parcel 

Of our country's history. 

And to their memory are, 

A monument^ more noble, far, 

Than all the granite thrones 

That Kings have raised, and with 

The choicest gems adorned. 

And shows the love of Freedom 

Heigns in man, supreme^ 

And e'en o'er death itself doth triumph. 

Youth. 

AVliat wonder then, when they 
Had larger grown, in earnest zeal, 
To make Religious Freedom sure 
And permanent, that they^ 
Unvjittingly should make 
And sanction laws, 
Wliich, should oppressive prove, 
Somewhat infringe, upon those 
Yery Rights, they Avould protect ; 
And, wdiich, in after years, 
Their judgment did condemn, 
And since have modified. 
And made them correspond 
With principles, they held so dear. 
But what avail such little faults 
Less of the heart than Jiead, 
When old N'ew England's Granite rocks, 
Which rear their lofty forms, 
Towards Heaven's gates, perpetual 
Wear, which fane can ne'er efface 
That glorious word, tJtat word 
Which thrilled the soul and 
J^erved the arm of Standish, 
Bradford, Brewster, and a 



6 

Host of other names, Feeedom, 

Freedom for all manhind. 

And tlie thousand rills. 

That gurgle from her hills, 

With siren motes proclaim. 

In Music, sweet the name 

Of Liberty for all mankind. 

It was the first^ the last^ 

The great foundation stone^ 

On which they reared their 

Infant colony. Hence, with a jealous eye. 

With vigilance, they watched and guarded strict. 

Each avenue of approach. And little dreamed ; 

That 'neath a Southern sun, in old Virginia's soil, 

The Upas tree was planted ! which would grow. 

And spread its branches, far and wide. 

Until, in its insidious way, it would infuse, 

Its poisonous breath into the Tree, 

That Liberty had planted ! 

And threaten to overwhelm, and utterly destroy it ; 

And, on its ruin rear a government, 

Despotic, tyrannivial and base. 

And has for its support and co^vi^r-stone, 

That nefarious term, American Slavery. 

Alas, it was too true ! If you will patient be, 

And read awhile, you'll see 

How by slow degrees, this monster did 

His coils entwine around the Nation's heart. 

The youth, not yet full grown. 
His love retained for parents and for kindred dear, 
Strengthened by absence long. 
And rendered doubly dear, 
Sy sacrifices great, privations, hardships, 
Sufferings untold. 

Which words hwi faintly tell, feebly ex2)re3S 
And which, when in his father-land, 
He never knew. 

How strange ! how wondrous strange ! 
That Parents could be so far lost 



I 



To all tlieir natural ties, which bind the parent to the cliikl, 

That they should jealous prove, 

And, instead of words of sympathy, and love, and joy. 

That such heroic efforts. 

By her own children made,. should with success be crowned. 

They sought by threats^ by taxes ^ illegal^ unjust^ cruel, icroiuj^ 

By every means to which they dared resort. 

To obstruct, to hinder, or delay 

The onward progress of the ambitious youth ! 

But each fresh act, of deep injustice,. 

Made the wound but deeper still. 

And added fuel to ilia fires which burned within the breast. 

Of their much abused and persecuted child ; 

And needed but a breath to fan it to a flame. 

The climax soon was reached ! 

The cup of infamy was full ! 

The pent up flames burst forth, from Massachusett's Bay, 

To Carolina's shore, the fires of Freedom burned. 

Xow ye, who at a Higher power do sneer, 

Note the result ; when Truth with Error meets, 

"When Right with Wrong, Justice with Tyranny contends. 

Behold this band of valiant hearts. 

In numbers ,/<??^, in means yet weaker still 

Inscribing on Freedom^ s chart, 

Those Heaven-born words, 

''''All men are equal Ijorn^'' 
And throwing to the breeze the Stars and Stripes, 
And with firm trust in God, 

Resolve to live for Fkeedom, or jperisK at her gates ; 
The long and fearful struggle that ensued — 
The God-like deeds of that heroic band, 
Led by the immortal Washington, 

The many times that Freedom cast but a flickering ray of hope, 
The shameful treason of pne of her favorite sons. 
Their marvelous escape, from quicksands, shoals, and rocks, 
Their glorious success^ 
All, ALL are known, and garnered 
In the hearts of Freedom's sons ; 
In letters of living light, are written. 
In the chronicles of our Nation's glory ! 



Manhood. 

TlniB did the youth became a man, 

Assert and noblj maintain his manhood, 

And from that time, till fifty years had passed. 

There's little to our purpose which we care to note, 

Save to remark. 

That led and controlled by such immortal names. 

As "Washington, JeflPerson, Madison, and Monroe, 

And the heroic-statesman, Andrew Jackson, 

'Tis no wonder that our country prospered 

In wealth, increased in population fast, 

Resjpect secured, the admiration gained 

Of ISTations, Kings, Empires, 

And all, who, not so selfish WQve, as to award merit, 

When justly earned. 

The canker-worm still grew. 
And stealthily, as doth the thief at night, 
Seek some unbarred entrance to a house, 
Whose inmates, all unconscious. 
Are in midnight slumber steeped. 
He cre^t, and crawled, in every place, 
Where Yirtue, Truth, and Freedom reigned, 
And soon became a power, a 'mighty power. 



Missouri Com.pi\omise, 

Man is a selfish being, has been in ages past. 

And in all future time will be. 

As we observed, this monster Slavery, a power became, 

That sought the acts to mould, the character to give. 

To all those noble institutions, planted by patriot hands 

And watered by patriot blood ! [laud ! 

His black flag already waved o'er more than half our lovely 

Three-fourths, at least, of all high offices he held ; 

Yet, like the Goddess, not content, 

He sought for more. 



And marshaled all his hosts, ouq fierce, one desperate^ 

Assault to make on Freedom'' s citadel. 

The lines were formed ; the orders given : — 

And the dark column moved ! terrific was the shock ! 

From North to South ; from East to West ; 

The country was convidsed ! 

Long weeks of weary, xiseless struggles, came and went ; 

And freemen stood and manfully beat back the storm, 

Slavery had raised. But fiercer, fiercer still, 

Rages the battle. The hearts of freemen tire, 

And fear, lest our land, our lovely land, 

Asunder should be riven. 

The enemy soon perceive, that freedom falters ; 

And, more desperate press their unjust demands. 

Alas ! Alas ! if freemen then had like their fathers proved, 

'Twere better y«r to with their country die, 

Than Slavery gain the victory. 

But counsels adverse prevailed ; and, one of freedom's 

Sons, most gifted of them all. 

With good intent, sought to still the troubled waters. 

And to prevent the greater wrong, the lesser one adopt. 

The Opiate was given. The Compromise was made. 

The tumult ceased. But Slavery gained, and Freedom lost. 

And from that hour began, secretly, the heresy to teach, 

Till now abhorrent even to the devotee of sin. 

That Slavery was 7nght, sanctioned by God, 

Sanctioned by laic, by common laic, by law approved. 

Such Blasphemous views, 
At first but few adherents had. 
But slovcTy, by degrees, they bolder grew, 
Till they embraced men of all caste, profession, 
Class and kind. And even those 

Who claim the doctrine of the great ISTazarene to teach, 
Boldly maintained, God's TTonZ approved. 
And sanctioned the great crime, 
A crime against Reason, God, and man. 
This doctrine spread and grew. 
Till even at the ]!*Tortli it found congenial soil. 
And heings were found, bearing the form of man, 



10 

Who claimed a man oi sable hue, 

Had no rights that white men should respect. 

The monster now throws oif his mask ! 

No longer the defensive takes ; but, openly proclaimSy 

His right to go where'er the Flag of Freedom waves. 

He lifts his iron rod, 

The Whig and Democratic party bow ! 

And strive, persistent strive, to gain his favor. 

His favorite proves the Democratic party — 

And his fast friend becomes. 

Despite the muttering thunders of the ISTorth, 

It is obliged to do his bidding, or sutler the same fate 

Of its opponent. Whig, For on it^ Slavery laid 

Its hand, and the Great Whig Party 

Disappeared ! Is not this true, if not, 

Where are the Southern Whigs of other days ? 

Found, in the rank and file of Democrats, 

Or, in that Great Party formed, the Monster to oppose. 

And National vanke freedom. 

'Tis needless to review the conflict Freedom had 

With its bold enemy. 

Young Kansas troubles, and the Texas plot. 

The Compromise and Squatter Sovereignty ! 

All, are familiar, as are house-hold words. 

One would suppose the depth of Infamy 

Was reached. That, even the infernal regions, 

All combined, could not devise, produce, 

Dare not proclaim and publish to the world, 

That they, another step would take. 

Farther advance on Freedom's Rights. 

Did Slavery hesitate ? l^ay ! 

Not even when her ally, faithful to the last, 

Begged, implored him to withdraw, 

This last demand. His rod again he raised, 

And sneeringly replied : — 

Give me a candidate, pledged to defend. 

Extend, sustain, uphold, my darling Institution, 

•Or, meet the fate your great opponent suffered ! 



11 

The party clave not do it ; but hoping to appease 

The anger of their master, King, they chose a man, 

Most gifted in their ranks. Who, had 

The sobricpiet title earned^ richly deserved, 

Tlie name of "Little Giant." And who, perhaps, 

Of all the Northern men of note their party 

Did embrace, was least objectionable. 

For, often when, the battle donbtful poised. 

Or, when the tide in Freedom's favor turned, 

Was the lamented^ (jifted Douglas found, 

If not on Slavery's side, demoralizing Freedom's 

Hosts, by taking middle ground ! 

Thank God, he did in part retrieve 

The errors he had made, and did assure 

The Mcu'tyr Lincoln^ that him, he would 

Sustain, with all the power at his command, 

In putting the Rebellion down. 

And, had he lived, no doubt would have been 

Foremost in the rank of Freedom's hosts ; 

But Slcwery dare not trust him. 

But showed the same ingratitude to hion, 

That Slavery always showed to others. 

When they ita purj?ose could no longer serve. 

Then, turning to that great and mighty party, 

Known as the Kepublican, he says. 

Elect your captain Lincoln, if you dare. 

And we will rend this government in twain ! 

Thus did the monster seek the hands to tie. 

The mouth to shut of all who did not 

To his mandate bow. 

This once they heed him not, thank God, 

But forward move, and gloriously elect 

The immortal Lincoln, 

Then, one by one, did Slavery's recreant sisters 

Leave the roof that sheltered them. 

And ere the lamented Lincoln was ensconced 

Within the chair of State, marshaled their hosts. 

With the intent to execute their threats, 

Or else, intimidate the government 

To their demands submit. 



12 

Tlie fatal shot was fired — the Hiibicon was crossed — - 

The clash of arms was heard : War was begun : 

A war which has no jparallel in modern times, 

Or ancient days ! for armaments immense, 

For ordnance before unknown, surpassing^/c*?^ 

In its munitions vast, and its expense the 

G-reatest wars that Europe e'er beheld ! 

But, not alone, in these respects,- 

Was this war most remarkable. 

But for self-sacrifices great, devotion to the cause. 

For sufferings unknown in ancient wars, 

For heroism exceeding^/«r the wildest ^/<3<xfe, 

Of which the crusaders can boast. 

For its romantic instances of personal endurance, 

And for its cruelties^ unheard of in countries civilized. 

And its glorious results ! It stands out, singly and alone^ 

On History's page as the most wondo7'ful on record.. 

We would not wound afresh the mourners' heart. 

Or cause the tears anew to start from widowed eyes, 

ISTor waken anew, the feelings in that hero's heart. 

Who gave his son, his only son, to God and his comitry's cause,,. 

The hea7't would sicken, and the hrain would tire, 

E'er we should half exhaust the mournful tale ; 

Vast volumes have been written, that all may read, 

Who have desire. 

But with us just a little bear. 
And we will your attention call 
To only two points, in the history 
Of this great tragedy. 

First, this war had almost n, failure proved, 
'Till our chief magistrate 
Proclaimed, Freedom to all enslaved. 
Wone can deny, all must admit, 
That this to Slavery was a staggering blow.. 
Had pierced the monster in a vital part, 
And made his friends turn pale. 
And trembling, wait to see 
What, in the Northern States, the effect would be-. 



13 

IN"ot long had tliey to wait, for soon they saw 
It was the electric spark, which fired anew, 
And kindled hope in every freeman's breast ! 
And nerved the arm of patriots to strike, 
■Stronger and quicker, for Freedom and for Right. 
Had the lamented Lincoln never done another act, 
He would immortality have won. 
Forever cherished will his memVy be. 
And reverenced his name, 
As great and good he will be known to fame. 

The other point, which helped to turn the tide, 

Was giving the sujpreine command io one man 

•Only, and making him the hea,d. 

It was our fortune to select a man 

Of energy and of an iron will, 

Of honest purpose, and of tact and skill. 

His hravery none but fools dispute. 

ISTone question his integrity, but those of no repute. 

Three times, at least, he did his country save 

J'rom the disgrace of an ignominious grave. 

You need not fear, that like hh predecessor he will ])rove, 

A Traitor to those principles you love. 

The Dangei^. 

1 would not needlessly the fears excite, 
The mind alarm, or make the matter 
Worse, than the reality. 
But, would lift my feeble voice 
In notes of warning, to my countrymen. 
Be on your guard, from lethargy awake ! 
Liberty is the price of vigilance. 
Though Slavery's carcass is dead. 
His sjnrit lives, and needs only the power 
Again to change the organic law. 
And institute anew the accursed system. 
These thoughts result not from diseased 
Imagination, but from a soher, 
Oandid view, of our present situatiou. 



u 



My countrymen, I ask yon candidly to look 

The 'matter in tlie face. 

Shut not your eyes and say, the danger is o'er- 

Seciire and safe is this Republic. 

What mean those fire-brand speeches, 

Those words of deep defiance, 

Those threats^ which from such Rebel-chiefs 

As Hampton, Toombs, and a score of other 

Criminals, do emanate ! 

What mean those Ku Klux Klans ! 

What means the shameful course 

By leading men pursued, in driving from 

Their halls their brother man. 

Because his face was of a darker hue ! 

What means the danger at the South 

Of Northern men, if they assert 

The doctrine taught by Jefferson ! 

They are the mutterings of the gathering- stoi-ii 

Wliich, ere we are aware, will burst with fury 

On us. 



The Appeal. 



Then listen, young men, to my fervent appeal ; 
My convictions and feelings, I cannot conceal ; 
That our country's salvation and its glory depend. 
On the cause you espouse, the side you defend. 

On one side you see all the rebels arranged. 
They say that their feelings have never been changed 
Since they met you, equipped in battle array, 
On that/'atoZ field, on that Moody day ! 

When weltering in gore, and close by your side, 
Fell brothers, and neighbors, and gloriously died ! 
As martyrs to freedom, by those rebels slain, 
Who now, all the Bights of Freemen do claim. 

And who is their leader, and what is his name ? 
Has he gained great honors, distinction and fame ? 
I've known him from boyhood, and will tell you the truth, 
There was nothing su^rising in his childhood or youth. 



15 

But, in process of time, a young man be became, 
And tbe bearts of young ladies were filled witb a, flame ; 
For Horatio was bandsome tbey declared, and was jpretty ; 
What care we^ if be is'nt so xoonderful witty. 

And during tbe whole of his, public career 
I never have beard tbat bis friends used to fear, 
Tbat bis wit was tbe cause oi 'hh predisposition 
To become a fit subject — for an insane institution. 

Did be ever propose, in thought, word or deed ? 
Anything tbat bis party made part of tbeir geeed ? 
I beg pardon, on one occasion be spoke 
To bis friends in New York, and tbeir ardor awoke. 

And bis party adopted \\\% plan it appears. 
For tbey were filled witb cleep troubles and terrible fears, 
Lest the " niggers " should come and our households demand, 
And drive us and our children from our lovely land ! 

But who bears the standard of Freemen on high ? 
'Tis tbe man who rebellion did boldly defy ! 
Who bearded tbe lion concealed in bis den ; 
Who whipped tbe bold rebels again and again ! 

'Tis foolish to try to belittle bis fame ; 
Tbe civilized world award him tbe name ; 
Of tbe greatest of captains, tbe mightiest chief, 
Tbat tbe world ever safiis, in a period so brief. 

When darkness enveloped the land and the sky, 
And to all it seenied certain that Freedom must die ; 
Where centered tbe hopes then freemen ? say, where ? 
I answer, in tbe chieftain, who then did declare : 

" This struggle I will not at any future time 
Basely surrender, but fight it out on this line 
If it takes all the summer, tbe object to gain ; 
And if we're defeated, we will try it again." 

Those heroic words, witb the lightning did fly — 
Tbey burst the dark cloud and lighted the sky ! 
And filled witb new hope the heart of the nation — 
They inspired it witb faith in its final salvation ! 

Then follow our captain, he's honest and true, 

And never, nay never, will he deceive you ; 

He has sense and goodi judgment, and will oiever betray 

His friends who support him — then do not delay. 



16 

But help us to roll on the liberty ball — 
Old Maine and Yermont have answered the call — 
And Rebeldom trembles, and quivers in fear — 
And the Democrats North begin to despair. 

I ask you, young men, to rise in your might, 
And put all the Bebs and their allies to flight ; 
In your majesty rise and your arraor gird on, 
And never give o'er till the victory is won. 

For the sake of those heroes your mem'ry holds dear, 
For the sake of those orphans whose hearts it would cheer, 
Strike^ strike for your country : for justice and right — 
And the heart of the loyal you'll Jill with delight. 

Then rally ! Oh rally ! Oh rally once more ! 
From the noble Atlantic to the Pacific shore. — 
Inscribe on your banner, Fkeedom to All — 
If you do not, I waen you, your fabric will fall. 

I charge you. Republicans, dare to do right. 

Do Right to the hlach man as well as the white^ 

Then will glorious victory perch on your hanner, 

And you'll emerge from the conflict filled with all honor. 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 



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